Carrier footwear system

ABSTRACT

A carrier footwear system allowing transportation of shoes, wherein a flexible elongated strap having first and second ends with an attachment mechanism near or at said ends; will secure a bag member for carrying footwear.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a carrier footwear system and particularly a system for holding and carrying various items such as dress shoes, sports shoes, and recreational shoes, whereby a flexible elongated strap having an attachment mechanism; placed at or near at least one end of the strap; will secure a bag member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Millions of commuters, travelers, and athletes have at one time or another worn a pair of shoes while carrying another. The ancient art of tying shoelaces together to transport a pair of shoes is still alive today as I watched a traveling celebrity athlete get off a jet wearing heels and having her sneaker shoelaces tied together through the strap of her large expensive designer bag while the bottom of her sneakers were rubbing up against her expensive bag. This is one example of the long-standing need for an improved carrier footwear system.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,126,256 and 6,446,849 recognize that individuals are still tying shoelaces together for transport and carrying them about the body. Those patents disclose devices related to carrying ice skates, hiking boots, and roller skates but not footwear used for commuting and global traveling. While those patents solve some problems associated with wearing a carrying device about the body, they are left uncovered and exposed to the elements.

Shoes can be very expensive, particularly for individuals purchasing name-brand designer or athletic footwear. Therefore, it is an object of the invention to allow people to protect their footwear from the elements and even to protect the footwear from the footwear themselves. For example, some women's high heels can be very destructive and susceptible to being easily damaged. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,790,462 and 6,446,849 disclose separating shoes, but they both disclose leaving the shoes exposed to the elements. This causes problems for people who want to have the shoes covered and protected from the elements. Some known systems that separate and cover the shoes from the elements are saddlebag systems.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,126,256 and 2,672,263 disclose a saddlebag type system that is typically worn about the body. This is a basic structure that has been around a long time and used with much success, but with this system a problem occurs when a saddlebag member cannot be detached and placed through a known carrying device to give the user one item to carry instead of two. If someone wants to use a known carrying device, such as a strap on a purse, a handle on a briefcase, or a top handle on luggage, a problem will occur when the saddlebag member will not fit through the strap on a purse, the handle on a briefcase, and the top handle on luggage. The user now has two bags to carry. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,790,462; 6,446,849; 4,126,256; 2,672,263; 5,129,560; and 5,513,787 also disclose devices that are worn about the body but do not utilize an existing structure or a known carrying device.

Two devices that focus on an existing structure or a known carrying device are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,836 and U.S. Patent Application No. 20080011567 A1. U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,836 is a crutch carrying bag that uses an existing structure, a crutch, wherein a bag member is wrapped around the handle on a crutch to free the body and hands of having to carry an item. U.S. Patent Application No. 20080011567 A1 addresses the issue of commuter and global travelers. While this device enables a briefcase to carry a supplemental bag with side pockets, it is limited to being carried about with a briefcase and cannot utilize the top handle of briefcase as does the present invention. It is also limited in its scope of working with other existing structures and known carrying devices for commuters and global travelers.

Women, who commute, typically place appropriate work attire, such as their dress shoes with high heels, which are uncomfortable to walk in for a long period of time, in plastic bags while wearing more comfortable shoes during their commuter time. If available, the commuter sometimes puts the plastic bag in a purse or book bag, a known carrying device. But when there is not enough room for the plastic bag the commuter has another bag to carry. The plastic bag tends to tear and has little to no aesthetic quality. It is also possible that a person will have many items to carry.

People, such as global travelers, sometimes have need for several pairs of shoes during their trip. A pair of dress shoes, casual shoes, and running shoes may all be needed for a single trip, possible even more. Therefore a carrying device that can carry multiple items may be needed. Some known carrying devices that are limiting in this aspect and can only carry on item at a time are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,126,256; 2,672,263; and 5,513,787. While being able to carry multiple shoes is important, equally important are the materials we use to cover them.

Many athletes, both male and female, who play sports that require cleats: soccer, softball, baseball, and football, have been known to tie their shoelaces together and throw them over their shoulder, place them in a book bag not created specifically for transportation of cleats, or throw them over their bicycle frame when traveling to and from the sports field. One major problem with this form of shoe transportation is that the dirt, moisture, debris, and germs from the sports field will get between the spikes or cleats on the bottom of the sports shoes and transfer to the athletes clothing or other objects in the book bag. Therefore, a carrier footwear system built with sturdy washable materials that can handle cleats, and/or have a washable inner lining in the bag member is needed.

While some people may not care about protecting their shoes from the elements or placing two shoes in the same bag, it is an object of the present invention to design a carrier footwear system that is modular and configurable to provide a user with multiple options for configuring the carrier footwear system depending on the use contemplated and desired by an individual for each particular use. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to have a modular carrier footwear system that allows for various configuration and uses contemplated by a user. For example, a user may want to use a washable inner liner for use with soccer cleats; buy may want to remove the washable inner liner to transport high heels or other footwear that will not get as dirty. Another example would be to allow for removal of non-essential components, such as bag liners and modular strap extensions, to allow for a carrier footwear system that is compact and easily stored in your pocket when not in use. Many known devices are cumbersome, obtrusive, and not compact or easily stored, such as those devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,126,256; 2,672,263; 5,129,560; and 5,513,787.

Consequently, the need remains for a carrier footwear system having at least one of the following properties: the ability to be easily carried about the body, the ability to be used in conjunction with an existing structure or known carrying device, the ability to be easily stored when not in use, the ability to be configured to carry a singular item or multiple items, the ability to be modular such that a user can configure the carrier footwear system for various uses and design a customized or personalized carrier system, the ability to have one or both of the items removed from the attachment mechanism, the ability to have a deterrent to theft, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,514,915, which-use an attachment mechanism in the style of a lock, the ability to protect the item to be carried, and the ability to connect directly to the footwear item being carried. While these are some aspects of the invention, other aspects will be described and are contemplated as part of this invention and as a person of ordinary skill in the art would understand in reading this disclosure.

Shoe companies on occasion place a shoe bag in with the shoes they are offering. This may be in the form of a single bag for each shoe or a larger bag that can hold both shoes. Since the present invention is not yet commercially available, the shoe companies do not provide a bag member that is configured to receive an attachment mechanism. Instead, their bags are designed to put the shoe in the bag and put the bag in another known carrying device, such as a shoebox or shopping bag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved carrier footwear system. The carrier footwear system comprises a flexible elongated strap having first and second ends. An attachment mechanism can be placed near or at the first end and near or at the second end. A first bag member may be configured for connection to the first end and a second bag member may be configured for connection to the second end. The first and second bag members can be configured to connect to the strap using an attachment mechanism. The bag members can have a seal along the outer rim with the allowance of one opening for items to enter and exit the bag member and the opening can be closed by drawstring or zipper.

It is another object of this invention to provide a system that allows easy transportation of shoes for commuters, travelers, athletes and anyone that needs to carry footwear. In one embodiment each of the bag members can be shaped generally to the configuration of the article contained therein. A single bag member can be shaped to receive a single item of footwear or a pair of footwear items. Alternatively, two separate bag members can be shaped to receive footwear items, each carrying an individual footwear item to protect each item from scuffing the other, such as expensive dress shoes with high heels causing damage to each other. Since some shoes are very expensive, an individual might want an attachment mechanism to deter theft. It is another object of the invention that the attachment mechanism may lock or have a safety feature to deter theft.

It is another object of the invention for the carrier footwear system to be carried about the body. It is another object of the invention for the carrier footwear system to, utilize another known carrying device or known existing structure; such as a strap on a bag, a handle on luggage, or a bicycle frame. The invention can be used to accommodate football, soccer or baseball cleats to be worn upon arrival at a playing field.

It is another object of the invention that the strap is made of modular strap-like components that permit a user to arrange the strap into a desired configuration. For example, an individual may arrange the components to wrap around a wrist and place one or more bags at the other end for a desired use. The one or more bag members can be detachable and can be separated from the strap if desired.

It is another object of the invention that the strap can be of adjustable widths and lengths. The strap may be of one piece or cut to section off a piece to be wrapped around a known carrying device or an existing structure. The material used for the flexible elongated strap and bag members may vary. It may be a combination of materials or a single material, such as nylon, canvas, cloth, leather, gore-tex, and plastic while also of varying colors. The material for the strap and bag members can be stretchable to accommodate different size items.

It is another object of the invention that the straps and bag members may be of varying colors. Custom bags and straps can be created for sports teams' colors, school colors, club colors, or any other desired colors. For example, the colors of the straps and bag members can be every color of every school of every sports team. Since the bags are detachable, you can make and sell multiple bags and they can be used in conjunction with existing strap and bag members to allow a user to customize a carrier footwear system as desired. Some people might want more than one set of bags, one for dress shoes and another for running shoes. Many women will not want to put their delicate, expensive dress high heels in the same bag as their running shoes. Each footwear item may require a bag member to engage a different type of material.

It is another of object of the invention to prevent the dirt, grime, and germs that will attach to the shoe and keep these undesirable elements inside a bag member and not on the individual's clothing or transfer to other objects inside a known carrying device. Therefore, it is another object of the invention that the bag member can be washable. When using a material that is not washable, a removable inner lining can be placed inside the bag member. The lining can be removed by any known detachment mechanism, such as a zipper or hook and loop fastener. Ventilation of bag members is important and can work conjunctively with materials that are washable.

It is another object of the invention that the opening can be like that of plastic bags. It can be an oversized wide-mouth opening to allow for an item to be easily placed into and taken out of a bag member. The oversized or wide-mouth opening can be sealed by any known closing mechanism, such as zipper, drawstring, hook and loop fastener, or a combination of these.

It is another object of the invention to place a third end with an attachment mechanism along the strap. The third end can be used to secure the strap around a known carrying device or known existing structure. This third end can be removable from strap.

It is another object of the invention to make the bag members accommodating for the item they are to carry. Some bag members made of soft cloth may be friendly to expensive dress shoes made of suede, leather, and silk; while other bag members may need specialized padding, such as thickness and durability, to deal with cleats or spikes on baseball shoes and the long sharp stem on a high heel. This specialized padding can also help to prevent the sharp stem on a high heel from breaking. Different materials for different needs will present different prices and the carrier footwear system can be affordable for all or expensive and desirable to a few. Bag members can be produced in mass quantity or they can be specialized, such that no two bag members need be the same. Thus, someone can have more than one bag member on the attachment mechanism and it can be used for different styles of shoes.

It is another object of the invention for the carrier footwear system to be simple and cumbersome free to permit a user to easily carry their footwear. If the user wants to place the carrier footwear system in a book bag, the carrier footwear system can be configured to use roughly the same amount of space as putting just the shoes in the book bag would. The system can be configured to take up as little space as possible and be as if the footwear items themselves were being put in another known carrying device, such as a bag, purse, book bag, and gym bag. A male or female might not want to use the same bag member for their dress shoes as they do for their sports shoes. Therefore, when the carrier footwear system is not in use it is another object of the invention to be simple, lightweight, compact, and easily rolled up to fit inside a small compartment, such as a jacket pocket or purse.

It is another object of the invention to stop individuals from using plastic bags that will be thrown away after a few uses. Why do we use the plastic bags to carry shoes? Because of the ease, the opening is extremely large, the plastic bags are free. When they start to smell you just throw them away and use another free plastic bag from some store. When they tear you just throw them away and use another free plastic bag from some store. Millions of these plastic bags find their way into landfills causing more problems for our environment and the air we breathe. Using the bags and throwing them away when they tear or begin to be filled with an unpleasant odor is a simple task in the disposable environment we have created. Therefore, it is another object of the invention to provide a carrier footwear system that is simple, but that can be used and reused for a much longer period of time and be environmentally friendly.

Without taking up space inside a known carrying device but rather utilizing the strap and handle so you don't have to carry another item, it is another object of the invention that the carrier footwear system can be used in conjunction with a known carrying device, such as the strap or handle of a known carrying device, or an existing structure whenever possible. It is another object of the invention to place one or more attachment mechanisms near or at the end of strap, to place one or more bag members near or at the end of strap, and to have a bag member configured to the shape of one or more items contained therein.

It is another object of the invention to provide a carrier footwear system that allows for various ways in which the item can be carried and, if desired, how the item is to be covered.

Various forms of the present invention as well as other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of thee disclose embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the carrier footwear system as arranged through the strap of a purse.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carrier footwear system as arranged through the strap of a book bag.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the carrier footwear system.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bag member through the heel opening with drawstring.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bag member through the heel opening with zipper.

FIG. 6 is a see-through side perspective view of the bag member with a shoe positioned therein and small pouch with various articles.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one embodiment showing carrier footwear system secured about a bicycle.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment showing carrier footwear system about an individual while secured directly to a shoe with empty bag member behind the shoe.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment showing carrier footwear system about an individual's wrist.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment showing carrier footwear system through a briefcase handle.

FIG. 11 is a perspective a view of another embodiment showing carrier footwear system through luggage top handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to FIG. 3, in one embodiment of the present invention the carrier footwear system 2 comprises an elongated flexible strap 4 with first 10 and second 10 ends. Along the strap 4 may include spaced holes 6 and one side of the strap 4 may be covered with a hook and loop fastener 8. Secured at or near first and second ends are first 12 and second 12 attachment mechanisms, which may swivel. A first item 14 and a second item 14 may be secured near or at first 10 and second 10 ends. The item or items may also be referred to as bag member or bag members. The first bag member 14 and the second bag member 14 can be configured to connect to the attachment mechanism 12. Along the bag member can be a receiver 19 for accepting the attachment mechanism 12. On the opposite sides of bag members can be hook and loop fastener 15. Along the strap 4 can be a third end 5 with attachment mechanism 7.

The strap 4 can be the length of shoelaces tied together. Strap width and length may vary. The strap can be made of nylon, cloth, leather, rope, rubber, metal, a combination of materials, or any other suitable material and can be adjustable. For example, it could be a buckle, clip, or other known existing adjustable strap mechanism. In another embodiment the strap 4 can be adjustable by looping the strap 4 around an existing structure or known carrying device. A method of use for this embodiment is displayed in FIG. 2 where the strap 4 can be placed through the strap of a book bag, a known carrying device, and then fastened back to itself in the spaced holes 6 for securing and to allow for shortening and lengthening the strap 4 as desired. Another shown embodiment of this type of adjusting and securing is in FIG. 11 where the strap 4 can be placed through the top handle of luggage, a known carrying device, and then secured back together by a hook and loop fastener 8

Sometimes the item 14 or bag member 14 secured to attachment mechanism 12 will be too large to fit through another known carrying device or existing structure. In another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 when the bag member 14 does not fit through a top handle on luggage in FIG. 11 or through a handle on briefcase in FIG. 10 you can release a bag member 14 from attachment mechanism 12 and put strap 4 through the top handle on luggage or the handle on briefcase and then reconnect bag member 14 to attachment mechanism 12. This process can be repeated whenever strap 4 does fit and item 14 or bag member 14 will not fit through or around an object, even as small an object as a pants belt loop.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10, the third end 5 can be used to secure the strap 4 by the spaced holes 6 around a briefcase handle, a known carrying device. The third end 5 can be removable from strap 4 as can the attachment mechanism 7. In another embodiment the attachment mechanism 7 can be used to connect the carrier footwear system directly to a bicycle handlebar, a known existing structure, as illustrated in FIG. 7. While this is done on the handlebars it may also be done about the bicycle frame. The attachment mechanism 7 can be connected to third end 5 or strap 4.

While many of these embodiments show how the carrier footwear system can be secured, it is FIG. 1 that shows the carrier footwear system in its simplest form. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 the bag member is placed through the strap of a large purse. The carrier footwear system is secured around the purse strap. The user of the carrier footwear system could use the embodiment in FIG. 1 or start to configure with the modular strap formations a personal individual use.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the bag member 14 can be double-sided and can be made of one single piece or two separate pieces, folded over, or placed side by side with a continuous seal, such as stitching or a zipper, along the rim allowing for the heel portion 20 of the bag member to be open for access into and out of bag member. In another embodiment the two sides of the bag member are constructed of one or more pieces. The pieces may be permanently connected as by stitching with the allowance for said opening. The bag members can be shaped roughly to the configuration of the article contained therein.

In another embodiment the bag members can be the same but do not have to be the same. For example, when a sports team colors or a schools colors are red and black, one bag member may be red and one bag member may be black. When it comes to size, shape, and material, the bag members can be the same but do not have to be the same. The bags can be made of a durable sturdy washable material, since dirt, grime, sweat, and odor from shoes will latch onto the bags. When non-washable materials are used for bags 14, such as leather or suede, a removable interior lining can be used to allow for washing. In FIG. 6 the point of view is seeing through the bag member 14. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the bag members can have a small pouch 30 for storing articles; such as, license, credit cards, key, and small personal items. Since theft does occur, in another embodiment the attachment mechanism 12 can have a safety or lock feature. Small locks can be used in conjunction with or in place of an attachment mechanism to prevent theft.

In another embodiment, heel 20 can have a wide mouth or oversized opening to allow for easy entry into and out of the bag member. One of the reasons that people use plastic bags is because they have an oversized opening to receive shoes. The bag member can be closed and opened with a drawstring, zipper, a combination of these, or anything known to a person having ordinary skill in the art. The embodiments disclosed in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, show one option for closing the wide mouth opening. Persons of skill in the art would understand that other options for doing so are available. FIG. 4 shows an opening at a heel bag member secured by a drawstring 24. FIG. 5 shows an opening at a heel bag member secured by a zipper 26.

Getting a shoe into and out of the bag member should be as easy as doing it with a plastic bag. In another embodiment disclosed in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 a thin dense malleable upside-down U shaped structure 22 may be added, such as metal, plastic, and/or foam, along the heel 20 of the bag member opening to allow for easier access into and out of the bag member. In another embodiment disclosed in FIG. 3 a finger hole 18 can be placed along the heel of bag member 14 to easily hold the bag while placing shoes inside the bag and a finger hole 16 can be placed along the toe of bag member 14 to easily hold the bag while taking shoes out of bag member 14.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 the carrier footwear system 2 can be worn about an individual. In FIG. 8 the attachment mechanism 12 can be simultaneously connected to both a shoe and the bag member 14. This can be done using the shoelaces, if a shoe has them, or with the finger hole at the top heel of a footwear item, while the bag member 14 rests behind the footwear item. This embodiment is acceptable with some types of footwear but not all and therefore another object of the invention is to make the bag members 14 easily stored in a pocket such that they are, unobtrusive when not in use. In FIG. 9 the first attachment mechanism 12 on first end 10 can be wrapped around a human's wrist and secured back to the spaced holes 6 on strap 4 while second attachment mechanism 12 on second end 10 can be secured to a bag member 14 or multiple bag members.

End one 10 and end two 10 of the strap 4 have been described in conjunction with one attachment mechanism 12, end one 10 with one attachment mechanism 12 and end two 10 with one attachment mechanism 12. Another embodiment of the invention can be that multiple attachment mechanisms 12 can be placed at or near end one 10 and multiple attachment mechanisms 12 can be placed at or near end two 10. Another embodiment of the invention can be that multiple items 14 can be placed at or near end one 10 and multiple items 14 can be placed at or near end two 10.

In another embodiment, securing the carrier footwear system can be achieved by placing a hook and loop fastener 15 as seen in FIG. 3 on opposite sides of the bags 14 to secure them to each other after they are placed through or around an object. To apply this securing device one needs only to make sure the hook and loop fastener 15 on the bag members 14 are facing each other and push them together.

The description of the invention provided herein discloses a number of different embodiments of the invention. These embodiments are examples of embodiments of the invention and do not, nor are they intended to, limit the possible variations and configurations encompassed by the invention. One of skill in the art would understand that the invention may include various other configurations, materials, and components. 

1. A carrier footwear system, comprising: (a) a flexible elongated strap having first and second ends; (b) an attachment mechanism placed near or at the first end and near or at the second end; (c) a first bag member arranged for connection near or at the first end and a second bag member arranged for connection near or at the second end; (d) wherein the first bag member and the second bag member are each configured of two sides connected with a continuous seal along the rim with the allowance of an opening for items to enter and exit said bag member; and (e) wherein the bag member is configured to connect to the attachment mechanism.
 2. A carrier footwear system according to claim 1 wherein the opening is closed by drawstring or zipper.
 3. A carrier footwear system according to claim 1 wherein an upside-down U shaped dense malleable element is placed along the heel to create an easy opening into and out of bag member.
 4. A carrier footwear system according to claim 1 wherein a third end with attachment mechanism is placed along said strap.
 5. A carrier footwear system according to claim 1 wherein a finger hole is placed at the heel of bag member to easily hold the bag while placing items inside the bag member and a finger hole is placed at the toe of bag member to easily hold the bag while taking items out of the bag member.
 6. A carrier footwear system according to claim 1 wherein a small pouch is created inside of bag member for storing various articles.
 7. A carrier footwear system according to claim 1 wherein a hook and loop fastener is added to the opposite sides of bag members.
 8. A carrier footwear system according to claim 1 wherein spaced holes are placed along flexible elongated strap.
 9. A carrier footwear system according to claim 1 wherein a hook and loop fastener is placed on one side of said strap.
 10. A carrier footwear system according to claim 1 wherein bag members and or inner lining are washable.
 11. A carrier footwear system according to claim 1 wherein strap is adjustable.
 12. A carrier footwear system according to claim 1 wherein locks are used as an attachment mechanism or used in conjunction with attachment mechanism.
 13. A carrier footwear system according to claim 1 wherein multiple bag members and multiple attachment mechanisms can be placed at or near first end of strap, second end of strap or both ends of strap.
 14. A carrier footwear system according to claim 1 wherein attachment mechanism can be secured directly to the shoes.
 15. A method of carrying footwear, comprising: (a) a flexible elongated strap having first and second ends; (b) an attachment mechanism placed near or at the first end and near or at the second end; (c) a first bag member arranged for connection near or at the first end and a second bag member arranged for connection near or at the second end; (d) wherein the first bag member and the second bag member are each configured of two sides connected with a continuous seal along the rim with the allowance of an opening for items to enter and exit said bag member, wherein shoes are stored in bag members; and (e) wherein the bag member is configured to connect to the attachment mechanism.
 16. A method of carrying footwear using the system of claim 1 wherein said first attachment mechanism on first end is wrapped around a humans wrist and secured back to strap while second attachment mechanism on second end is secured to a bag member or multiple bag members.
 17. A method of carrying footwear using the system of claim 1 wherein first attachment mechanism on first end is secured to a known carrying device or existing structure: a bag strap, a luggage handle, a bicycle frame, a briefcase strap or handle, a pants belt loop, while second attachment mechanism on second end is secured to a bag member or multiple bag members.
 18. A method of carrying footwear using the system of claim 1 wherein first attachment mechanism on first end is secured to first bag member or first multiple bag members and strap is placed through a known carrying device or existing structure: a bag strap, a luggage handle, a bicycle frame, a briefcase strap or handle, a pants belt loop, and the second attachment mechanism on second end is secured to a second bag member or second multiple bag members.
 19. A method of carrying footwear using the system of claim 1 wherein first attachment mechanism on first end is secured to first bag member or first multiple bag members and strap is placed through a primary carrying device: a bag strap, a luggage handle, a bicycle frame, a briefcase strap or handle, a pants belt loop, and the second attachment mechanism on second end is secured to second bag member or second multiple bag members while securing the strap by the hook and loop fastener on the carrier footwear system.
 20. A method of carrying footwear using the system of claim 1 wherein attachment mechanism can be secured directly to the shoes and worn about the body. 